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Variegation on the Green Theme - Part One

© Marge Talt

Sometimes, variegated plants will produce a totally green leaf or branch, generally larger and more robust than the variegated portions. In nature, these green parts would eventually overpower the variegated portions and the plant would revert to all green. A good many of the variegated forms of plants now in commerce exist only because someone has made a point of encouraging them - in the wild they could not compete. Remove green reversions when you find them to maintain your plant's variegation.

Leaves whose veins lack chlorophyll-bearing cells above or below the conducting tissues of the vein develop white or cream veins but are not truly classed as variegated plants, although most of us consider them to be.

Arum italicum 'Pictum' is one of these. Not only are the leaves beautiful, they are evergreen during winter, starting their season's growth in autumn - a trait to be treasured in climates where they can be grown. My clump has not increased dramatically in some fifteen or twenty years, however, in salubrious climes like the PNW and northern California, they can be over exuberant to the point of invasiveness....something to keep in mind if you garden there.

In the shady garden, the silver-white foliage of Pulmonaria angustifolia 'Excalibur' enlivens the green background of lace-cap hydrangeas and hellebores, providing a counterpoint to the hydrangea blossoms.

Variegated foliage with this impact acts in lieu of flowers in the shady garden, contributing a constant focal point throughout the growing season. Who needs flowers with foliage like this?

A Few White Variegated Plants From My Garden

Select a thumbnail for a larger image and profile of the plant.

Asarum splendens	Athyrium niponicum pictum	Brunnera 'Jack Frost'
Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima'	Disporum sessile 'Variegatum'	Helleborus x sternii Ashwood strain
Hosta 'Francee'	Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata'	Liriope 'Silver Dragon'

Next time, sunshine in the shade - yellow variegation. See ya' later!

More Information

• For more information about the fabulous Alocasia macrorrhiza 'Variegata' see my article, Wild, Wonderful Aroids Part Two - Elephant Ears, Alocasia, Colocasia and Xanthosoma. Scroll down, it's toward the end of the article.
• Dan Heims, of Terra Nova Nurseries, who has introduced so many marvelous plants, has developed a Tricyrtis Characteristics and Culture Sheet listing all the species and clones in the trade with their size, flower color, bloom time, hardiness and more for those of you trying to decide which of these intriguing plants to add to your gardens. He's also written an article with cultural information describing the different species and cultivars - well worth reading.